Kara Patterson, an Elite Athlete Grantee Biography

KARA PATTERSON

HOMETOWN: CHULA VISTA, CA
SCHOOL: PURDUE ('09)
EVENT: JAVELIN THROW

Career Highlights: American Record Holder (66.67 meters/218'6") & 2010 U.S. National Champion; Member of 2009 World Championship Team; 2009 U.S. National Champion; 2009 Outdoor All-American (2nd Place); 2009 USTFCCCA All-Great Lakes Region Athlete of the Year; 2009 NCAA Mideast Regional Champion (4th); 2009 Big Ten Athlete of the Year; Earned Big Ten Medal of Honor given for proficiency in scholarship and athletics; 2009 Drake Relays Champion; 2008 Olympian; 2008 Olympic Trials Champion (Olympic Trials Record); 2008 USTFCCCA All-Great Lakes Region Athlete of the Year; 2008 Big Ten Athlete of the Year and of the Championships; Set American Collegiate Record-61.56m (202’ 0”); 2008 Penn Relays Champion (2nd)

CHECK OUT KARA'S BLOG & WEBSITE AT http://karapatterson.blogspot.com/ & http://s2.webstarts.com/karapatterson

CLICK HERE FOR KARA'S DETAILED PERFORMANCE INFORMATION.

In Kara's words:

“Receiving a grant from the USATF Foundation has been such a blessing. I am fortunate to enjoy sponsorship from Asics, but also being able to cover regular and unexpected training expenses relieves so much stress that could take away from quality of training otherwise! Adapting to professional training in my first year out of a University setting has taken a little bit of a toll on me physically, and I haven’t missed a beat due in part to support from the Foundation. Thank you for helping to further the Olympic dreams of so many athletes!”

After high school success in swimming, basketball, and track and field, javelin took Kara to Purdue University from her hometown of Vancouver, Washington. As a Boilermaker, she competed under the tutelage of Coach Rodney Zuyderwyk and enjoyed much success in a program with a rich women’s javelin history. She holds the Purdue school and Big Ten Championship Meet records at 61.56m and the American Collegiate record, also 61.56m.  Kara won three Big Ten Championship titles in 2005, 2008, and 2009. She won the NCAA Mideast Regional Championship four times, setting a meet record in 2009 at 58.56m. Twice she was an NCAA Outdoor All-American, placing fifth in 2008 and second in 2009. Kara placed second at the Pan-American Junior Games in Windsor, Ontario in 2005, and competed for the United States at the North American, Central American, and Caribbean Under-23 Championships in the Dominican Republic in 2006.    

At the 2008 U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials, Kara claimed a spot on her first Olympic Team, winning with an Olympic Trials record throw of 58.44m. The Beijing Olympics did not go according to plan, as she finished 22nd in her qualifying round. In 2009, Kara recorded a season, and career-best throw of 63.95m, en route to winning her second straight USATF National Championship and earning a trip to her first IAAF World Championship Meet, where she placed a disappointing 14th in her qualifying round. Her mark is the second-best in the history of United States women’s javelin, and only 24 centimeters shy of the current American Record. At 63.95m, Kara owned the 8th-best mark in the World in 2009.

Kara moved to the ARCO U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California, in September of 2009, after a first European season of learning experiences! Working with Coach Ty Sevin and fellow track and field athletes like training partner Mike Hazle, has been invaluable to improving Kara’s technique, general understanding of the javelin, and overall readiness for consistent big throws. Being surrounded by amazing athletes (and friends) everyday serves as constant encouragement. She looks forward to her first year of post-collegiate training and competition, and has her sights firmly set on a top-three finish at the 2011 IAAF World Championships. 

When not training, Kara tremendously enjoys the recreation that southern California has to offer!  She and her boyfriend (USATF Foundation Grantee Russ Winger) frequent San Diego’s Point Loma for seafood and ocean-view hikes and are year-pass holders at SeaWorld San Diego. Other favorite activities include mountain biking, fishing with Russ, lying by the pool with a book, hanging out at the beach, or lounging around watching MythBusters, NBC TV shows or various movies. Kara bought a guitar in fall 2009 and is very slowly learning how to play.  A choice few of Kara’s favorite musical artists are Shinedown, Crossfade, Owl City, Miley Cyrus, and Oasis. She recently began work with Athletes for Hope, a volunteer organization dedicated to getting athletes involved in their communities. 

Kara & Russ Winger at the Beijing Olympics

2009 Outdoor Championships (1st Place)

Thanks,

Kara Patterson, Javelin Throw

CLICK HERE FOR KARA'S DETAILED PERFORMANCE INFORMATION.

2009 National Championships (1st Place)

With the Girls From Purdue

2008 Olympic Trials (1st Place)

Dazzling in Orange

Beijing Olympics

Ice Fishing With Russ Winger